Apparatus for collection of linear material

ABSTRACT

In a system for twisting together several ends of heavy treated glass yarns, an improved means for feeding the ends and maintaining constant tension thereon, comprising multiple power driven feed rolls whose speed is continuously varied in response to the tension in the strand between the feed rolls and the twister, to maintain the strand tension at a desired level. Strand tension is sensed by a pivotally mounted member which is biased into strand-deflecting contact with the strands, and whose angular position is thus responsive to strand tension. The position of the sensing member controls a potentiometer which varies the current supplied to the feed roll drive, thereby controlling the feed rate and providing a feedback signal to maintain constant strand tension.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,808,789

Hurley May 7, 1974 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTION OF Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher LINEAR MATERIAL Inventor: Raymond E. Hurley, Heath, Ohio Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, Toledo, Ohio Filed: Jan. 26, 1973 Appl. No.: 326,739

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1971 Ferguson 226/195 X 4/1952 Zmatlik et al. 226/181 X 4/1917 Turley 226/187 X Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stae1in & Overman; Richard D. Grauer [5 7] ABSTRACT In a system for twisting together several ends of heavy treated glass yarns, an improved means for feeding the ends and maintaining constant tension thereon, comprising multiple power driven feed rolls whose speed is continuously varied in response to the tension in the strand between the feed rolls and the twister, to maintain the strand tension at a desired level. Strand tension is sensed by a pivotally mounted member which is biased into strand-deflecting contact with the strands, and whose angular position is thus responsive to strand tension. The position of the sensing member controls a potentiometer which varies the current supplied to the feed r011 drive, thereby controlling the feed rate and providing a feedback signal to maintain constant strand tension.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures mmm H914 3808789 SHEET 2 0F 2 MOTOR.

52 18 re. r

30L") MAGNETIC TENSION STATE CLUTCH. SENSOR. SWITCH. rs.

TIME ELECTRIC 1 DELAY BRAKE.

TACH THRESHOLD GENERATORS. DETECTORS.

APPARATUS FOR COLLECTION OF LINEAR MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention involves an improved system for feeding multiple ends of heavy treated glass yarns into a conventional twister winder. The invention has been employed in conjunction with the Whirlwind Twister Winder, M-3750, manufactured by Warner & Swasey of Cleveland, Ohio. In this conventional twister winder, the individual cords or strands are fed into the winder from supply packages held in a creel, with each strand being individually tensioned at the creel. The strands are twisted in the horizontal twister winder unit, which employs a flyer disk for establishing and controlling the shape of a balloon which forms between the flyer disk and a strand-gathering point known as an apex guide. The balloon shape assumed by the spinning twisted strands resembles that which occurs in a game of jump rope, wherein two children holding onto opposite ends of a rope cause it to spin.

The diameter of the balloon formed .by the spinning strands is a function of the length of the strands between the supply point and the take-up point in the twister winder, and this length is necessarily also related to the tension of the strands between such points. When the length of the strands between such points in-- creases or the tension decreases, the diameter of the balloon increases under the influence of centrifugal force. If the diameter increases too much, the strands will strike the protective framework which generally surrounds apparatus of this type, causing the strands to either break or abrade. If the balloon diameter contracts too much, there may be an excessive amount of friction against the flyer disk, and the accompanying high tension in the strands may produce breakage.

The above described sensitivity of such apparatus to strand tension is particularly significant in winding operations involving heavier weight strands. Problems resulting from tension variation have been encountered in handling heavy treated glass yarns, such as rubbercoated yarns used for such applications as gear belts having high tensile strength and resistance to stretch. The increased weight and friction involved in processing such materials through a winding operation aggravates the above described problems. The conventional capstan type strand feeding apparatus is unable to handle a large number of these heavy strands without slipping, and the feed rate has to be reduced substantially below the 450 feet per minute capacity of the whirlwind twister winder. It also becomes more difficult to mechanically sense strand tension, since more load is needed to deflect the strand, thus increasing drag. It often becomes necessary to employ an operator to constantly monitor and control the feed rate, in order to maintain the tension in the desired range.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved feeding system for winders of the above described type, which feeding system is particularly suited for processing heavy strand materials such as rubber-coated glass yarns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation of the winding system of the presentinvention, with portions of the system being shown in simplified schematic form.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the controls for the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tension sensing portion of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the strand feeding portion of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE Referring to FIG. 1 in particular, the system generally comprises a twister winder l0, creel frame 12, feed mechanism 14, a drive 16 for the feed mechanism and a tension sensor 18.

Creel frame 12, shown schematically, provides a rotatable mounting for a series of supply packages 20, each of which contains a winding of an individual strand or yarn or end 22. The individual strands travel back and forth horizontally between a series of guides prior to advancing toward feed mechanism 14. This lacing arrangement provides sufficient strand length to keep any breaks which may occur exposed'upon shut down of the apparatus. Such a lacing arrangement is conventional and is therefore shown only schematically.

After the strands pass through feed mechanism 14 and tension sensor 18, they are routed through a strand separator 24 immediately prior to entry into the hollow tube portion 26 of the twister. The separator is conventional, and serves to keep the strands from becoming prematurely twisted or snarled.

Strands 22 exit from tube 26 through hole 28 and then pass over balloon shape control unit and flyer disk 30. Tube 26 and flyer disk 30 are driven by a drive motor 32 and drive belt 34. As described above, the twister-winder 10 is of conventional design.

Twisted strands 36 enter the balloon zone after leaving flyer disk 30, and are then collected at apex guide 38. The strands are then routed through a conventional tension compensating system, shown only schematically, and from there to a reciprocating traverse arm 40 which feeds the twisted strand onto take-up package 42. The feed mechanism 14 for pulling strands 22 off of supply packages 20 and supplying them to the twister winder unit 10 receives its power indirectly from drive motor 32. A power take-off belt 44 drives input shaft 46 off of the rotating hollow tube 26, shaft 46 serving as'the input shaft to a conventional variable speed transmission 48. Output shaft 50 from transmission 48 is connected to a magnetic clutch 52, which in turn drives a first drive roller 54 of feed mechanism 14 through belt 56. a

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, feed mechanism 14 includes three identical drive rollers 54, 58 and 60, which heve their axes arranged parallel and coplanar, and which are positively interconnected for simultaneous rotation at identical speeds by belts 62 and 64. A further belt 66 driven off roller 58 is connected to coaxially mounted electric brake 68 and flywheel 70.

The feed mechanism drive rollers are mounted within a housing 72, which also contains two idler rollers 74 mounted in the upper lid portion 76 of the housing. The journals 78 for the idler rollers are biased downwardly from lid 76 by springs 80, which serve to continuously bias idlers 74 downwardly into contact with the drive rollers, as shown in FIG. 4.

clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, to increase the deflection applied to strands 22 by rods 84.

A second arm 94 is connected to shaft 86 for rotation therewith, and is provided with a clevis 96 to which is connected a piston rod 98 which has a piston (not visible) mounted for reciprocation within a damper cylinder 100. This structure serves to reduce excessive oscillation of the tension sensor.

OPERATION In operation, it will be seen from FIG. 3 that the angular position of shaft 86 is dependent upon the tension of strands 22 between feed mechanism 14 and the twister winder unit 10. Increase in tension tends to bring the two rods 84 into horizontal alignment, against the continuous strand-deflecting force created by weight 90. As strand tension is reduced, and the diameter of the balloon formed by twisted strands 36 increases, shaft 86 will rotate counterclockwise under the influence of weight 90, causing rods 84 to increase the vertical deflection of the strands. The use of a pair of oppositely moving rods 84 minimizes the deflection of the strand as well as the biasing force necessary to provide accurate tension sensing. This, in turn, reduces the sensor-induced drag imposed upon the strands, a significant advantage in heavier weight strand applications.

Potentiometer 88 is wired so that a reduction in strand tension and the resulting counterclockwise rotation of shaft 86 will increase the electrical resistance therethrough. An increase in electrical resistance in the supply circuit to magnetic clutch 52 will decrease the flux in the clutch, thus reducing the torque or permitting greater slip in the clutch and consequently reducing the speed of the feed mechanism drive rollers 54, 58 and 60. v

In this manner, a reduction in tension, which represents excess length of strand, is quickly compensated for by a reduction in strand feed rate, permitting the winder to take up the slack and gradually increase the tension.

Conversely, an increase in tension causes the shaft 86 to rotate clockwise, against the bias of weight 90. This decreases the resistance through potentiometer 88, increasing current and magnetic flux and transmitting greater torque through clutch 52. This in turn, increases the speed of the feed rollers in feed mechanism 14, to supply the strand at a greater rate and reduce strand tension.

Thus, it will be seen that tension sensor 18 continuously monitors the strand tension and provides a continuous feedback signal to control the rate of strand feed to the twister winder unit. Drive motor 32 continues to rotate at a constant speed, as does output shaft 50 from transmission 48. Only the degree of slip through magnetic clutch 52 varies to control the rotational speed of drive rollers 54, 58 and 60. The sensitivity of the potentiometer can be adjusted to compensate for a range of strand weights.

As is described and claimed in further detail in our copending application Ser. No. 326,704, filed on Jan. 26, 1973, a novel system for detecting breaks in strands 22 comprises a series of tachometer generators (see FIG. 2), one connected to each supply package 20, so that a separate electrical current is generated by rotation of each supply package 20 as the system is in operation. If any strand fails or if its package is consumed, its supply package stops rotating, and the electrical output of the associated tach generator drops to zero.

By means of a solid state switching circuit, illustrated only schematically, the terminated output is sensed by a threshold detector which signals a switch to shut off motor 32 and clutch 52. However, a time delay circuit permits the drive rollers 54, 58 and 60 to continue rotating, due to their momentum and that of flywheel 70, for a perdetermined time until electric brake is actuated to stop feed mechanism 14. This short period of extended operation provides slack in the system, to facilitate rethreading of the failed strand.

The arrangement of drive and feed rollers shown in FIG. 4 enables the substantially heavier strand materials to be driven at high speed, without slip. The use of multiple drive rollers, in conjunction with spring loaded idlers, provides a high degree of wrap of the strands around'the rollers, and provides maximum frictional gripping of the strands to impart linear movement without slip. If desired, lid 76 of housing 72 can be pivotally mounted by hinges having their axes parallel to the strands 22, to permit easy access for threading the strands through the feed mechanism.

Thus, the present invention provides a feed system which is particularly suited for handling heavy weight strands, such as heavy rubber-coated or otherwise treated glass yarns. The feed roller arrangement has the capacity to drive many strands at high speed without slip. The tension sensing system is capable of sensing tension in heavy strands, without injecting excessive drag, and continuously adjusts the strand feed rate as required to maintain substantially uniform strand tension.

This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly, the above specification is to be interpreted as illustrative of only a single operative embodiment of this invention, rather than in a strictly limited sense.

I now claim:

1. In a strand winding device having power-driven feed means for supplying the strand to be wound to a rotating collector and wherein said feed means comprises a constant speed source of rotational energy and an electrical energy-responsive variable torque transmitting clutch, and wherein the same constant speed source of rotational energy drives the rotating collector at a constant speed, the improved method for controlling the tension in the strand between the feed apparatus and the collector which comprises the steps of:

sensing the tension in the strand at the location to be controlled by a sensing device whose position is responsive to strand tension;

transmitting the movement of the variable position element of the sensing device to the movable element of a feed-speed regulating potentiometer located in the circuit which supplies electrical energy to said clutch device so that the torque transmitted through said clutch under the control of said potentiometer is directly proportional to the tension sensed by said sensing means;

whereby the strand tension can be maintained at a predetermined substantially uniform level by continuously varying as required the strand feed rate without varying the speed of the rotating collector.

2. In a strand winding apparatus including a motor for driving the wound strand collector at constant speed and for driving strand feed means through an electrical energy-responsive variable torque transmitting clutch which controls the strand feed rate as a function of electrical energy supplied thereto, the improved means for controlling and maintaining tension in the strand between the strand feeding means and the wound strand collector comprising:

a pair of spaced parallel rigid rods mounted to a frame, said frame being freely mounted for angular movement about an axis which is parallel to and substantially coplanar with and equidistant between said spaced rods;

an eccentric unbalanced weight connected to said frame for biasing said frame to pivot in a first direction about said axis;

and electrical current-varying means connected to said frame and responsive to the angular position of said frame for varying the electrical current transmitted by said means as a function of the angular position of said frame;

whereby when a strand is threaded over one and under the other of said rods, in a direction perpendicular thereto, and when said eccentric weight is positioned to cause said frame to pivot to bring said rods into strand-deflecting contact with the strand, the tension in the strand will oppose transverse deflection thereof by said rods as induced by said weight, and the electrical current output of said current-varying means will be a function of the strand tension as indicated by the angular position of said frame, said electrical current output being supplied to said strand feeding means to control the rate of strand feed without varying the speed of the rotating collector.

3. In a strand winding device having power-drive feed means for supplying the strand to be wound to a power driven rotating collector, the improved method for controlling tension in the strand between the feed means and the collector, which comprises the steps of:

driving the collector at a constant speed with a constant speed motor;

driving the feed means with the same constant speed motor but interposing therebetween an electrical energy-responsive variable torque transmitting clutch;

sensing the tension in the strand at the location to be controlled by a sensing device whose position is responsive to strand tension;

transmitting the movement of the variable position element of the sensing device to the. movable element of a feed-spaced regulating potentiometer located in the circuit which supplies electrical energy to said clutch so that the torque transmitted through said clutch under the control of said potentiometer is directly proportional to the tension sensed by said sensing means;

whereby the strand tension can be maintained at a predetermined substantially uniform level by continuously varying as required the strand feed rate without varying the speed of the rotating collector.

4. In a strand winding device, the improved means for controlling strand tension which comprises:

a constant speed motor for driving a rotating strand collector at constant speed;

power driven strand feeding means for linearly advancing the strand from a strand supply to the strand collector, said strand feeding means including said constant speed motor and an electrical energy-responsive variable torque transmitting clutch which varies the rate of strand feed to the collector as a function of the electrical current supply to said clutch;

a pair of spaced parallel rigid rods mounted to a frame, said frame being freely mounted for angular movement about an axis which is parallel to and substantially coplanar with and equidistant between said spaced rods;

biasing means connected to said frame for biasing said frame to pivot in a first direction about said axis;

and electrical current-varying means connected to said frame and responsive to the angular position of said frame for varying of the electrical current transmitted by said means as a function of the angular position of said frame;

the electrical current transmitted bysaid currentvarying means being supplied to said clutch for varying the torque transmitted therethrough as a function of said current;

whereby when a strand is threaded over one and under the other of said rods, in a direction perpendicular thereto, and when said biasing means is caused to pivot said frame into strand-deflecting contact with the strand, the tension in the strand will oppose transverse deflection thereof by said rods as induced by said biasing means, and the current output of said current-varying means will be a function of the strand tension as indicated by the angular position of said frame, said current output in turn controlling the rate of strand feed, without varying the speed of the constant speed rotating collector. 

1. In a strand winding device having power-driven feed means for supplying the strand to be wound to a rotating collector and wherein said feed means comprises a constant speed source of rotational energy and an electrical energy-responsive variable torque transmitting clutch, and wherein the same constant speed source of rotational energy drives the rotating collector at a constant speed, the improved method for controlling the tension in the strand between the feed apparatus and the collector which comprises the steps of: sensing the tension in the strand at the location to be controlled by a sensing device whose position is responsive to strand tension; transmitting the movement of the variable position element of the sensing device to the movable element of a feed-speed regulating potentiometer located in the circuit which supplies electrical energy to said clutch device so that the torque transmitted through said clutch under the control of said potentiometer is directly proportional to the tension sensed by said sensing means; whereby the strand tension can be maintained at a predetermined substantially uniform level by continuously varying as required the strand feed rate without varying the speed of the rotating collector.
 2. In a strand winding apparatus including a motor for driving the wound strand collector at constant speed and for driving strand feed means through an electrical energy-responsive variable torque transmitting clutch which controls the strand feed rate as a function of electrical energy supplied thereto, the improved means for controlling and maintaining tension in the strand between the strand feeding means and the wound strand collector comprising: a pair of spaced parallel rigid rods mounted to a frame, said frame being freely mounted for angular movement about an axis which is parallel to and substantially coplanar with and equidistant between said spaced rods; an eccentric unbalanced weight connected to said frame for biasing said frame to pivot in a first direction about said axis; and electrical current-varying means connected to said frame and responsive to the angular position of said frame for varying the electrical current transmitted by said means as a function of the angular position of said frame; WHEREBY when a strand is threaded over one and under the other of said rods, in a direction perpendicular thereto, and when said eccentric weight is positioned to cause said frame to pivot to bring said rods into strand-deflecting contact with the strand, the tension in the strand will oppose transverse deflection thereof by said rods as induced by said weight, and the electrical current output of said current-varying means will be a function of the strand tension as indicated by the angular position of said frame, said electrical current output being supplied to said strand feeding means to control the rate of strand feed without varying the speed of the rotating collector.
 3. In a strand winding device having power-drive feed means for supplying the strand to be wound to a power-driven rotating collector, the improved method for controlling tension in the strand between the feed means and the collector, which comprises the steps of: driving the collector at a constant speed with a constant speed motor; driving the feed means with the same constant speed motor but interposing therebetween an electrical energy-responsive variable torque transmitting clutch; sensing the tension in the strand at the location to be controlled by a sensing device whose position is responsive to strand tension; transmitting the movement of the variable position element of the sensing device to the movable element of a feed-spaced regulating potentiometer located in the circuit which supplies electrical energy to said clutch so that the torque transmitted through said clutch under the control of said potentiometer is directly proportional to the tension sensed by said sensing means; whereby the strand tension can be maintained at a predetermined substantially uniform level by continuously varying as required the strand feed rate without varying the speed of the rotating collector.
 4. In a strand winding device, the improved means for controlling strand tension which comprises: a constant speed motor for driving a rotating strand collector at constant speed; power driven strand feeding means for linearly advancing the strand from a strand supply to the strand collector, said strand feeding means including said constant speed motor and an electrical energy-responsive variable torque transmitting clutch which varies the rate of strand feed to the collector as a function of the electrical current supply to said clutch; a pair of spaced parallel rigid rods mounted to a frame, said frame being freely mounted for angular movement about an axis which is parallel to and substantially coplanar with and equidistant between said spaced rods; biasing means connected to said frame for biasing said frame to pivot in a first direction about said axis; and electrical current-varying means connected to said frame and responsive to the angular position of said frame for varying of the electrical current transmitted by said means as a function of the angular position of said frame; the electrical current transmitted by said current-varying means being supplied to said clutch for varying the torque transmitted therethrough as a function of said current; whereby when a strand is threaded over one and under the other of said rods, in a direction perpendicular thereto, and when said biasing means is caused to pivot said frame into strand-deflecting contact with the strand, the tension in the strand will oppose transverse deflection thereof by said rods as induced by said biasing means, and the current output of said current-varying means will be a function of the strand tension as indicated by the angular position of said frame, said current output in turn controlling the rate of strand feed, without varying the speed of the constant speed rotating collector. 